Apple ad brings back memories

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) - While some of us have been busy placing our last minute orders for big screens and chicken wings, Apple fans have spent the pre-Super Bowl week reminiscing about the groundbreaking 1984 commercial that debuted the Macintosh.

But the fond musings regarding the ballyhooed ad, once named the best commercial ever by TV-Guide and typically referred to glowingly by industry veterans, also provided plenty of fodder for the boisterous anti-Apple contingent.

Like Bashaholic4Ever, for instance, who lived up to his cyber-handle over on Yahoo: "Face it, Apple
AAPL, -1.92%
LOST, and the only thing they have to show for the last 20 years is an iPod and a 3 percent market share for computer products."

Jobs and company took the wrong approach, according to Torroid88: "Instead of targeting IBM
IBM, -1.26%
they should have targeted Greedy Gates."

JerkStore wasn't as scathing as most bashers but still offered his critique: "Apple is great, but I am practical and use a PC. Apple is like the British Monarchy. They have a great role in history, and we keep them around for the little things they can do for us."

Then there was Gem7, who appreciated the commercial at the time but has since had a change of heart: "Another knock about how business is bad, artsy is good. I thought it was pretty eye-popping as a kid too, but as I got older I realized a few things. Like businesses aren't E-VIL. (specially when my stock goes up, heh.)"

Of course, the Apple faithful, like they always seem to do, took exception to any and all jabs. This from Unrealed22000: "It must really frost your cookies that Apple is STILL in business, STILL making a profit, STILL introducing products that alter the direction the industry takes, and STILL making headlines that spur the likes of you into a Pavlovian frenzy of bashing and trolling."

And DavidStutler: "If being the so-called leader in the PC industry (Dell
DELL
MS
MSFT, -1.70%
) means making GOBS of money and then putting out loads of inferior material, then I hope to all that's holy that Apple stays where it is in the market. Constantly innovating and redefining what we do with our computers.

"It's not a load of BS - it's happening around you all the time. 3 percent market share - no problem. "

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